Sri Lankan soldiers near Mullaittivu, the Tamil Tigers' former military headquarte
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Sri Lanka snubbed the international community's call for a ceasefire today, saying troops would not suspend their offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels despite reports of a growing civilian death toll.
rs. The government said it would offer a limited amnesty to rebel forces that were ready to lay down their arms as they were on the brink of defeat in their 25-year-old struggle for a Tamil homeland. But ministers refused to hold peace talks, saying they would accept nothing less than total surrender.
Apparently down to their last 600 fighters, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam appear to be approaching the final battle with the Sri Lankan army.
The military has encircled the rebels and says the Tigers are close to collapse, having lost almost 99% of the territory under their control only a year ago.
Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, described the fighting as a "humanitarian operation" designed to end terrorism and liberate Tamils from the "oppression" of the rebels.
"The defence secretary has made it clear he is not going to enter into negotiations which privilege the LTTE," said Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the director of Colombo's Centre for Policy Alternatives. "But the international community has always made it clear that they represent a section of the Tamil polity. That's a problem."
Source: Guardian.Co. UK.
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